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We, TheFlyingStars documentary team, are saddened to hear about the passing of Mr. BobCrowe. Bob was a producer at Bamboo Shoots, a film and TV production company in Saskatchewan, and a few years ago he reached out to us after we submitted an application to one of his company’s funds. We didn’t win this particular competition, but Bob was impressed enough with our film that he picked up the phone and offered to help hand.

It’s tough making any movie, particularly a documentary, so that gesture meant a lot to us. Bob was patient and understanding and reliable. He helped many filmmakers besides us fulfill their visions. That’s something special in this world.

The Freetown and Bo region Flying Stars teams will square off to celebrate the UN’s Disability Day on December 3. It’s a rematch of the game captured in the documentary. “This football match is to showcase how peaceful and united we are,” adds the Freetown club’s manager, Mohamed “Census” Jalloh who appears in the film. “We want to preach peace.”

Supporters around the world can help the teams cover the costs of their transport to the soccer pitch and the rental fee of that field. You can safely donate hereeither by giving directly to the team or buying authentic Sierra Leonean wood carvings (above) and portraits of the team by associate producer and New York photographer Fiona Aboud and the film’s photographer, Johnny Vong. Similar items were sold at our fundraiser in May 201...

The Flying Stars profiles two founding members of Freetown, Sierra Leone’s amputee soccer/football team . They are their teammates created the first team at the end of that country’s civil war, but where did Bornor and Census hear about amputee soccer?

Remember that football (“soccer” to North Americans) rules Sierra Leone (and most of the world). Every child plays it. Adults devoutly follow U.K. Premier League games beamed from satellite TV. They wear the jerseys of their favourite players, like Canadians adorn the uniforms of hockey stars. But in early 2001, the civil war in Sierra Leone was completing a full, weary decade and amputees like Bornor and Census had gathered from around the country at a refugee camp in the capital of Freetown, overflowing with refugees.

Americans can now see The Flying Stars as it premieres on kweli TV. This is the full 65-minute version running on this new streaming service offering the best in global black filmmaking. Even better, anyone in the States can try a free preview of kweli TV for seven days. Click here to view!

In this theatrical cut, first seen at the world premiere at the 2014 Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), team captain Bornor (pictured in red above) of The Flying Stars amputee football club of Freetown, Sierra Leone is profiled along with his teammate, Census. As they pass and score on the soccer pitch, both Bornor and Census struggle to feed their families and come to grips with the post-traumatic stress they suffered from the decade-long civil war...

We’re back! The Flying Stars are back on TVs across Canada tonight on Documentary Channel at 10 pm EST (then 1 am and 5 am)! Tune in, if you missed us the first time around. Check your local cable provider for the channel.

The Flying Stars leap out of Canadian TVs! Join us for this premiere on Monday, March 6 at 7:00 pm, free to all on CBC’s Documentary Channel. Check your local listings for the channel number (i.e. 325).

Filmmakers Allan and Ngardy are excited that their film is reaching Africa. Ghana lies near Sierra Leone, just east and also nestled against the Atlantic Ocean. The amputees in The Flying Stars have often played fellow amputees in Ghana in tournaments.

The Bo regional amputee soccer team in practice. (Photo: Johnny Vong)

Captain of The Flying Stars, Bornor, cooking for his children (photo: Johnny Vong)

The Flying Stars returned to the Toronto area Sunday afternoon with a screening at the Willson Oakville Film Festival. Co-director, Allan Tong, presented the film to a near-capacity cinema, which boasted a gorgeous two-storey-high screen and a rich sound system. The Flying Stars was paired with another documentary about sport and disability, 8% No Limit.

The audience asked Allan perceptive questions such as, “Who started amputee soccer? and “Has the film helped the team find sponsors?” The answers, respectively, are retired American nurse Dee Malchow, herself an amputee who did volunteer work in Sierra Leone; and yes, including our fundraiser last month at the Gladstone Hotel.

The final question was: “What else that you shot for the film that you couldn’t put in? The answer was that we ...

On May 12, supporters filled the Gladstone Hotel ballroom on Toronto’s hip Queen St. West to raise money for The Flying Stars amputee football (soccer) club of Freetown, Sierra Leone and the Bo Team in the southern region of Sierra Leone. (For those who couldn’t attend the fundraiser, you can still support the players by buying photographic prints and Sierra Leonean wood carvings at our new online store. This site will also accept donations on behalf of the Flying Stars team.)

Fundraiser organizer and co-director Ngardy Conteh George (above) gave an update on the teams and details on their income-generating initiatives and goals. You can find out more details about both teams initiatives here.